tiggerpolice

In taking an early look around the NFC South, the Atlanta Falcons look like the team to beat.

Last season, Atlanta ranked first in the NFL in rushing yards per game, and if you can run the football, you can win.

The Falcons were also eighth in the NFL in run defense, and if you can stop the run, you can win.

But with fleet-footed, strong-armed Michael Vick at quarterback, word is the Falcons are determined to showcase more of their passing game this season.

And by selecting former Alabama-Birmingham receiver Roddy White, who caught 71 balls for 1,452 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior in college, the Falcons seem to have made a commitment to doing just that.

Plus the team re-signed tight end Alge Crumpler to a six-year, $27 million deal in November. Crumpler led the team with 48 catches last season and has emerged as one of the top tight ends in the NFL.

Then there’s still Michael Jenkins, a first-round draft choice out of Ohio State last season; Peerless Price, who showed loads of ability when he was in Buffalo; Dez White, who right now is the team’s second wideout; and Brian Finneran, who has been a big, consistent receiver throughout his career.

In the backfield, Warrick Dunn has put up numbers his entire life and has never gotten the respect he deserves. He is still a threat to score at any time. With Dunn and T.J. Duckett in the backfield and a blue-collar offensive line, if Atlanta gets its passing game going, it could put up some massive offensive numbers.

On defense, the Falcons added middle linebacker Edgerton Hartwell to go along with an already talented front seven that include defensive ends Patrick Kerney and Brady Smith, defensive tackles Rod Coleman and Chad Lavalais -- an LSU product -- and linebackers Brady Smith, Demorrio Williams and Keith Brooking.

The Falcons also added a player LSU fans will be familiar with when they drafted Jonathan Babineaux out of Iowa in the second round. Babineaux, who played against the Tigers in this year’s Capital One Bowl, has the potential to contribute this year for Atlanta.

Cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Jason Webster highlight the Falcons’ defensive backfield.

On special teams, Allen Rossum is one of the league’s top return specialists, but Todd Peterson is a downgrade at place kicker compared to Jay Feeley, who signed with the Giants.

Former Saints player Toby Gowin is the punter and kickoff man.

With as much talent as the Falcons have on the field, their coach, Jim Mora, has been the reason Atlanta played in the NFC championship game last season and the reason the Falcons will be one of the toughest teams in the NFC again this year.

So the Saints playoff hopes could depend on how they do against the Falcons.

Of the five seasons in which New Orleans has made the playoffs, the team is a combined 7-2 against the Falcons in the regular seasons (the teams only played once in 1987).

A 2-0 showing against the Birds this year would be very impressive and could mean a postseason berth for New Orleans.

Courier sports writer Kelly McElroy can be reached at 857-2211 or kelly.mcelroy@houmatoday.com


http://www.houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs..../1036/SPORTS02

blackwidows

FALCONS STIL ARE POOR AT WR

blackwidows

I HATE THE FALCONS BUT I WOULD GIVE STALLWORTH , ARE DT THE FAT AS SULLIVAN AND DARREN HOWARD FOR MICHEAL VICK

LordOfEntropy

Did the Falcons do ok last season?

Let's not forget that they're just as old as we are, but they've -never- had back to back winning seasons.....


I just -love- to bring up that statistic.

spkb25

I THINK OUR DIVISION WILL BE TOUGH AGAIN. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IS WHO WINS THE GAMES IN THE DIVISION. WELL I GUESS THAT IS OBVIOUS. BUT IF WE CAN GO 4-2 OR 5-1 IN THE DIVISION WE HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT THE PLAYOFFS. I THINK THE FALCONS ARE TOUGH. IF VICK DOES PUT IT TOGETHER WITH HIS ARM AND HIS LEGS THIS YEAR THEY ARE GOING TO BE TOUGH TO BEAT. IF OUR O LINE CAN BE REALLY GOOD THIS YEAR AND WE CAN RUN THE BALL WE COULD WIN THE DIV. TOO. OH YEAH AND IF OUR D CAN LET UP SAY 18 POINTS LESS PER GAME THAN LAST YEAR.

FireVenturi

i agree they are the favorite in the south, but their wr's are garbage so they wont make it any further than the NFC champ, which is still a good season